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Virginia Beach punts on collective bargaining referendum
The pros and cons of allowing city employees to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions will be hashed out in a study. Mayor Bobby Dyer called for the analysis and had the support of enough colleagues for the proposal to advance Tuesday. He had suggested studying the matter last month, but the decision walks back his previous call to include a collective bargaining advisory referendum on the November ballot.
GOP hopefuls for Spanberger seat trade fraud, defamation charges over ad
A once-sleepy Republican primary for Virginia’s most competitive congressional seat has suddenly gone into overdrive, with both leading candidates launching fiery ads about the other’s professional record and accusing each other of lying, fraud and defamation. The six-way nomination contest in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District is led by two military veterans — Derrick Anderson, a former Army Green Beret, and Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL — who have both pitched themselves as the GOP’s strongest candidate to flip this battleground seat.
Officials: Mountain Valley Pipeline gas can benefit region
Installation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline inflicted environmental costs on forests and streams but, with the pipeline almost ready to carry gas, a utility CEO and an economic development official predict it will generate economic gains as well. By bolstering natural gas access in the region, the MVP creates conditions that could catalyze a wave of industrial expansion, according to officials. Summit View Business Park in Franklin County will receive gas upon the MVP beginning service, possibly this month, a boon to efforts to market its 13 available sites. In addition, Roanoke Gas Co. will tap the MVP to augment supplies for the greater Roanoke region — and none too soon.
EVMS, ODU celebrate merger to create Virginia’s largest health sciences center
The first recipients of dozens of new full-ride health science scholarships will attend classes at Old Dominion University this fall, but they haven’t been notified yet. They haven’t even been selected. That’s because the primary support for these scholarships, two gifts totaling $40 million, was just announced Friday afternoon at a celebration of the long-awaited merger of Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University, which will officially take place on July 1. Leaders unveiled the name of the program: Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. It will be the largest health sciences center in Virginia ...
Chasing shiny objects, VCU and city leaders lose their way
A mayor whose administration carves out $170 million for a nonessential ballpark, but struggles to fund schools and dips into the pockets of the city’s most important retail sector — restaurants. A university president who signs off on a real estate deal as part of a government-subsidized “economic development” project downtown — then pulls out at a cost of nearly $80 million. For all the progress RVA has made in the last decade, Richmond has a leadership problem.
Appalachian Power requests decreased transmission rate for Va. customers
Appalachian Power has filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to lower the electric transmission cost for customers. Appalachian Power says this rate, known as the T-RAC, is the part of a customer’s bill that recovers costs for transmission services, fees and new construction. Costs allocated to the company by PJM — an independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states — have decreased, and they say they’re passing that lower cost to customers.
Gov. Youngkin signs executive order regarding voter list maintenance
On Friday, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order to strengthen Virginia’s voter rolls and ensure better data accuracy. According to a release from the governor’s office, Executive Order 31 builds on the administration’s improvements to list maintenance. This includes establishing one-to-one data-sharing agreements with seven states; conducting two National Change of Address mailings; and streamlining the process for removing voters who have died from the system.
Davidson: Sen. Kaine wants more career, fewer political-fundraising ambassadors
Have you heard the story about the expensive handbag designer, a member of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, who was his ambassador to South Africa? Although born there, Lana Marks had no previous diplomatic experience. What about Kelly Craft, a Republican donor and Trump’s ambassador to Canada, who reportedly was dubbed an “absent ambassador” because she was so often away from her post? Or the one about the bipartisan political fundraiser and would-be U.S. ambassador to Norway nominated by President Barack Obama?
After city jail fire, Portsmouth plans to keep inmates at Hampton Roads Regional Jail
A fire at the Portsmouth City Jail last week forced more than 150 inmates and staff to move to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, where city officials hope they will remain during the coming months as the city works to finalize the purchase of the facility. Portsmouth City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams told The Virginian-Pilot the city is working to negotiate a temporary lease agreement to occupy the HRRJ earlier than planned given the circumstances. She was unable to provide details this week about cost and timeline.
Chesapeake ponders changing voting system to districts
An effort to change the way City Council and School Board members are elected in Virginia’s second largest city is gaining momentum. Tuesday, a resolution is up for a vote in front of City Council that, if passed, would place an advisory referendum on the November 2024 ballot. Voters would be asked if they would like to change from Chesapeake’s at-large system, in which all members of City Council are voted on by all registered voters, to a system that has the city divided into eight districts, where you only vote for the mayor and the council member that lives in your district.